Tag: ep

Austin’s a fairly insulated city when it comes to the music scene. Sure, you’ve got your Spoon and The Black Pumas…and they deserve their due, but there are acts that might not ever make it out of the city, at least as far as the “media” is concerned. One act that we’ve all had our eyes on, hoping for larger exposure, is Blood, who just released their Why Wait Till ’55 We Might Not Even Be Alive EP; it’s a four song collection of undefinable shapeshifting rock n’ roll that sprawls over 20 minutes. In the confines of these four tunes you’ll find little droplets of hardcore and post rock, from Shellac to Cursive, yet done with enough pop panache that it’ll draw in fans of Shame, Black Midi and Fontaines DC. What a way to introduce yourselves to the world.

San Francisco’s Shasta has some heavy-hitters working on crafting the tunes that appear on their debut EP; you’ve got members who’ve played in Bleached, the Shins, Beck and Gothic Tropic…if we’re namedropping. On the band’s latest single, it’s just on the knife’s edge of a dance hit; the sharp edges are there, and there’s a seductive nature to the tune that beckons you to the dance floor. Perhaps a touch too slow for traditional dance grooves, but in that subtlety you’re likely to dive deeper into the song’s natural intoxication, guaranteeing you’ll have it on blast at your next late night shindig. Look for the debut EP on March 13th via Dowd Records.

I took a liking to Limerick City based Evan O’Malley and his project known as Martian Subculture a few months ago with the release of his single “All Emotions Are Equal”. Since that time, O’Malley has dropped a few other singles in preparation for an entire EP of new material. Today we are pleased to share with you his new EP, Mars, for your streaming pleasure. I find it incredibly impressive that this is largely a one man recording with the many layers and instruments found on each track. At times you’ll find a bit of shoegaze, but also some chillwave, and some splashes of R&B here and there. Basically, the Mars EP has a little bit of something for everyone.

Dear Laz,
I just wanted you to know how happy I am that you and Bubblegum Lemonade are back with new music; I feel like it’s been a few years since we last spent time together. There’s something so timeless about the way you construct your songs that inevitably leaves them stuck in my brain. On first listen, people might overlook the way you add in these textured vocal harmonies for emphasis in “Our Mother’s House;” it’s so light that one might barely notice if they’re staring out the window nostalgically…as many of your fans are likely to do. I’m so excited that Desperately Seeking Sunshine is right around the corner (via Matinee Recordings), but I’m even more thankful that you tossed in some exclusive B-sides on this EP. Anyways, just wanted to reach out and tell you I love your work.

You’re working through your day, enjoying various tunes, and suddenly Rose Melberg’s name pops up under new releases. You scour the Internet, you rush to find the track…lo and behold, there’s Olivia’s World, a new band featuring Rose on drums, with friends Lica and Joe joining in. The trio craft that insatiable sort of pop, high on fuzzy, hook-laden guitars, and heavy on the sugary vocals that make any listener swoon. The video is playful, attached to the feeling of the song, with Lica seemingly having the most fun with her shark impression. Lost Sound Tapes promise to have a cassette EP out this Spring…but it’ll sell out quick if the songs are all as good as this.

Austin has given birth to my love of music, and since that’s our home base, I wanted to repay that, so I asked a few folks to share their Austin stories with me. Today, I’m sharing a story from our city about Primitive Circuits, written by Andy R. Lemon (also of Teenage Cavegirl). After you hit the jump you’ll find the rest of his story, as well as a few unreleased tunes from the now defunct band!

An Obituary of an Austin Synth Band

Ever find yourself at a combination bowling alley/roller rink/arcade looking up from your pedal board through a Teen Wolf mask over to your best friend who’s dressed like a vampire and playing more synths than Beethoven in Bill & Ted to find yourself surrounded by huge neon robots poppin’ and lockin’ to your version of Sugar, Sugar by The Archies set to the drum sample from Tone Loc’s cover of Wild Thing by The Troggs, and wonder, how did I get here? Read more

It’s Thursday and I’m ready for the weekend so it’s time to rock out! Thanks to this hit “Waste Me” from Bay Area band The Silhouette Era I can do just that. This one is most definitely for fans of fellow garage rock bands like Wavves or even Surfer Blood (hey a shark!). The guitar riff alone is sure to pull in even the “I prefer soft music” types.

Today, my head’s floating off into who knows where; I’m mentally drifting out the window of my classroom. Luckily, this Sonny Elliott tune has been in heavy rotation, matching the sentiment of my current state. There’s a fragility in the vocals, as if they could shatter in midair, crumbling to the floor. Guitars angle and turn behind you, wrapping you up in this blankety of dreamy warmth; it all has this sublime calm effect in the end. This track features on the forthcoming Under Covers EP, which the duo will unleash unto the world on May 25th.

Though I am likely a bit late in sharing this new song by Ontario based Basement Revolver, it’s just too damn good not to share late or not. The tune, “Tree Trunks”, is a slow, melodic, building track that reminds me of some of the better music from Wye Oak or even Camera Obscura. Both bands we here on the ATH team love. This band is certainly beginning to take off so get on the hype train while you still can.

Oakland based The Saxophones just sent me this new single “If You’re on the Water” this morning and I had to share it with the world. It’s a very dreamy, very repetitive, and totally meditative type of song. For me, it’s been a perfect start to what is a cloudy and kind of gloomy Tuesday morning. Hopefully this is just the beginning of more great things to come.

Fans can purchase this song as part of a new EP available on July 19th. Picture disc!